7 Hilariously Misused Southern Sayings, According To Our Readers

Southerners have their fair share of unique sayings and phrases, from the classic "hold your horses!" to the ever-charming "heavens to Betsy!" However, there are some quirky ditties that even multigenerational Southerners might not have ever heard, or that people commonly use in the wrong way. Is it a compliment? An insult? Just pure confusion? Expressions that seem to defy explanation happen to be our favorite kind, and the meanings are often just inherently known by those who grew up hearing it.

Which Southern phrases are most commonly misused, misunderstood, or generally in need of some clarification? Turns out, y'all have your opinions on the matter, so we asked and you answered. These are the 7 Southern phrases that people misuse the most.

The Most Misused Southern Phrase Of All 

Bless Your Heart

Without a doubt, this was the most popular answer—so popular we could actually feel the annoyance through the screen. It seems while most people agree that this classic Southernism is typically meant more sassy than sweet, there are many passionate people who disagree. Here’s how we see it. 

If you’re hearing "bless your heart" in the South, it probably has an edge to it. It certainly can be deployed sincerely, yet it’s almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head. It can express empathy or judgment, or it can be said in place of a person’s true feelings.

Most of all, Southerners know that when “bless your heart” is uttered during conversation, the meaning depends on the context. Yes, it can be a backhanded comment, but it can also be a genuine expression of sympathy. For example, a “bless his/her heart” spoken in a whisper is often conspiratorial. Yet, a “bless your heart” spoken directly with a kind smile is an expression of empathy or concern. 

In the end, some “bless your hearts” are just plain sass. Receiving this “bless your heart” is a Southern rite of passage. Don’t sweat it. 

Other Commonly Misused Southern Phrases

Fixin’ To

The argument here is more to do with the person who wields it, we suppose. Beyond the fact that it is a far cry from proper grammar, it seems that many folks’ issue with this phrase is with those who assume that if you’re “fixin’ to” do something, that it will be done straight away. When, in fact, a Southerner might simply be stating that it’s on the to-do list, and that to-do list might not be getting done anytime soon. That’s just how Southern scheduling goes. 

In our opinion, when you’re fixin’ to do something, it’s going to happen, but you also may decide to take your sweet time. No harm, no foul. 

Y'all

Undoubtedly the second most popular response, “y’all” seems to stir up quite a bit of controversy—mostly due to people decidedly not from the South using it, and using it far too much. Moreover, there seems to be a touch of annoyance when it comes to how people use it, and especially how they spell it. Newsflash: "Ya'll" is not correct, and never will be.

The way we see it? When talking to two or more people in the South, you don’t refer to them as “you” or even “you all.” It’s y’all. Not “ya’ll,” nor “all y’all” (though this is acceptable in a big group). 

Puttin’ On The Dog

This one is even more fun than the rest, mainly because there are so many people—folks from the South and those who hail from far away—who don’t even know what it means. In short, “putting on the dog” has a very specific, yet flexible gist. At the core, it means to put on a flashy display, or gussy it up. Someone might say it about others in good-natured talk or themselves as a self-deprecating compliment.

For example, if someone is throwing a party and pulls out all the stops, including the good silver, you could say they’re “putting on the dog.” If someone gets extra gussied up—we’re talking hot rollers and lipstick—you could note that they “put on the dog.” If your in-laws are coming in town and you’ve whipped out the homemade cheese straws, you’re “putting on the dog.” It can go for people, events, items, or really anything a Southerner dubs it so.

God Love ‘Em

This phrase seems innocent enough at surface level, so much so that many people wouldn’t see any problem. However, the real Southerners know that it mistakenly gets used in a kind way, when it’s really meant to be as sassy as “bless your heart.” The implication is that we can call on the Almighty to love someone, despite the many errors of their ways and shortcomings. For example, “that boy’s porch light is on, but no one’s home, God love ‘em.” 

Put Your Foot In It

This old-school saying is comical, clear, and complimentary, if you know how to use it correctly. While some mistakenly think that it means that you brought up a topic of conversation that would have been better not to speak about, and therefore now someone’s going to be upset or awkward—as in, “dang, I really put my foot in it there”—it’s actually about nothing of the sort. 

Really, it’s one of the highest compliments you can pay to a Southerner’s cooking, but can sometimes be used for other types of endeavors as well. For example, “Have you tried the fried chicken? Mama put her foot in it tonight.” 

Can’t Never Could

Instead of meaning what you might expect—such as you’ve never been able to do something and aren’t going to be able to start now—it’s actually about the power of positive thinking, Southern style. 

Basically, if you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something. But if you think you can, you'll succeed. If that sounds confusing or backwards when used in the sentence, get used to it. Like most of these misused phrases, it’s not about semantics as much as tradition.